Cardinal Santos Medical Center Joins Hands to National Breastfeeding Awareness Month
Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) is delighted to announce its wholehearted endorsement of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. With great enthusiasm, Cardinal Santos is committed to heightening public awareness regarding the pivotal significance of breastfeeding in promoting optimal infant health and nutrition. As part of its commemoration, CSMC is extending an invitation for donations to its Lactation and Human Milk Bank, a vital resource that stands as a pillar of support for premature and vulnerable infants on their path to a healthier commencement in life.
Breast milk stands as the quintessential nourishment for infants, replete with safety, cleanliness, and antibodies that fortify against numerous prevalent childhood ailments[1]. Throughout this month, Cardinal Santos Medical Center reaffirms its unwavering dedication to advancing breastfeeding as the cornerstone of child health and overall well-being.
Dr. Counselo Teodoro, a Pediatrician and the chairman of the CSMC Breastfeeding Committee, shared her insights regarding this year’s observance. “This year’s Breastfeeding Awareness Month Theme, ‘ENABLING BREASTFEEDING: Making a difference for working parents,’ resonates deeply within CSMC’s realm. We not only stand as a Mother-Baby Friendly Hospital but also a Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace. Our Lactation Management Clinic serves not only our patients but also our employees, offering them the means to express and store breast milk during their designated lactation breaks. Our Lactation Implementers remain available around the clock, offering guidance on nursing positions, latching, milk expression, breast massage, and comprehensive counseling on breastfeeding matters. This signifies that our working mothers need not compromise between nourishing their infants and fulfilling their professional duties; they can effectively accomplish both. Adjacent to our LMC is our Human Milk Bank, where meticulous screening of milk donors takes place and milk contributions are welcomed.”
Rallying for Community Support to Nourish the Most Fragile Lives As a testament to its commitment to nurturing newborns in need, CSMC introduced its groundbreaking Lactation and Human Milk Bank in 2022. This pioneering initiative stands as a beacon, collecting, pasteurizing, and distributing donated human milk to preterm infants and those confronted with specific medical conditions. Human milk holds a particularly vital role for infants housed in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), extending crucial defense against infections and fostering optimal growth.
Extending a helping hand to CSMC’s Human Milk Bank is a straightforward yet profoundly impactful way for lactating mothers to positively influence the lives of infants in critical need. The process entails meticulous donor screening, ensuring the safety and caliber of the contributed milk. The donated milk undergoes a rigorous pasteurization regimen to eliminate any potential pathogens while preserving its invaluable nutritional content.
Dr. Lourdes Dizon-Co, Pediatrician and Head of CSMC’s Human Milk Bank, emphasized, “The mission of CSMC’s Human Milk Bank is centered on enhancing the health and survival prospects of the most fragile infants. These infants deserve access to human milk. We manifest our mission by securely collecting and distributing human donor milk, fostering education, advocacy, and conducting research.”
Cardinal Santos Medical Center remains fervently devoted to spearheading endeavors that prioritize the health and well-being of its patients, with a pronounced emphasis on newborns and infants. The steadfast commitment to advancing breastfeeding and the establishment of the Human Milk Bank stand as a harmonious alignment with the hospital’s overarching mission—to provide compassionate and individual-centric care to all, especially the most vulnerable.
To gain deeper insights into Cardinal Santos’ Lactation and Human Milk Bank or to explore opportunities for contributions during the World Health Organization’s Breastfeeding Week, please visit https://cardinalsantos.com.ph/. CSMC is also actively present on Facebook; be sure to like and follow them at www.facebook.com/CardinalSantos.
